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Friday, October 14, 2016

Discharge at the Marlin Room at Webster Hall

J.J. Janiak

Discharge formed
as a hardcore punk band in 1977 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. By 1980, Discharge
was among the British punk bands that began leaning more towards thrash metal, featuring
more grinding and distorted guitar sounds and faster, heavier percussion. The
stylistic transition made by these bands was a trend known as "UK 82"
or Second Generation UK Hardcore. The punk genre of d-beat was named after
Discharge's distinctive drumbeat. This intense d-beat influenced the birth of thrash
metal, black metal, crust punk, grindcore and various extreme metal subgenres. Over
the years, the lineup in Discharge changed frequently, and the band went on
hiatus at least twice. Discharge presently consists of vocalist Jeff "J.J." Janiak, guitarists
Anthony "Bones" Roberts
and Terence "Tezz" Roberts,
bassist Royston "Rainy"
Wainwright and drummer David
"Proper" Caution. Discharge's seventh and most recent studio
album, End of Days, was released on April
29, 2016.

Headlining tonight at the Marlin Room at Webster Hall, Discharge continued to cross the genres
of hardcore punk and speed metal. J.J. Janiak is the newest member of the band,
joining in 2014, but he was the focal point for the band, pacing the stage
incessantly while coarsely shouting the lyrics as the nearly steadfast musicians
around him scorched their fingers and drumsticks at blinding speeds. Although
impossible to decipher, Discharge made social statements in "Drunk with
Power", "Hatebomb", "Fight Back", "Hear Nothing,
See Nothing, Say Nothing", "Protest and Survive" and "New
World Order." An angry, defiant anarchistic demeanor fed these songs, but it
was the fast and ferocious brutal assault that defined the performance.